The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and stages in spermatogenesis in dd-mice. 1991

K Abe, and L S Shen, and H Takano
Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

For the basis to study the testicular functions using dd-mice, the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and stages in spermatogenesis, classification of late spermatogenesis, and postnatal development of spermatogenesis were examined by light and electron microscopy in the testes from these animals at day of birth and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 weeks of age. For light microscopy, paraffin sections of the testes were stained with periodic-acid and Schiff reagent (PAS) and hematoxylin. In spermiogenesis, 16 steps of spermatids were distinguished according to shapes of the nuclei and acrosomes. Step 15 and 16 spermatids, which have similar nuclei and acrosomes, were easily distinguishable by positions of nuclei and appearance of basophilic granules in the cytoplasm; steps 15 and 16 were thus subdivided into 3 and 2, respectively. The granules were accumulations of ribosome-like particles. Step 13 spermatids were present with step 1 spermatids, step 14 with steps 2 and 3, step 15 with steps 4-6, and step 16 with steps 7 and 8. Thus, the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was divided into 12 stages (stages I-XII) in the order of steps 1 to 12. Type A spermatogonia were present in all stages, and intermediate and type B spermatogonia appeared from stages II and VI, respectively. In primary spermatocytes, the resting phase appeared from stage VII, leptotene from stage VIII, zygotene from stage X, pachytene from stage III, diplotene in stage XI, and diakinesis and secondary spermatocytes in stage XII. The seminiferous tubules were lined by Sertoli cells and contained gonocytes at day of birth, type A spermatogonia appeared at 1 week of age, spermatogenesis proceeded until pachytene spermatocytes at 2 weeks, until step 1 spermatids at 3 weeks, and all stages of the seminiferous epithelium were completed at 5 weeks. The findings indicate that combination of germ cells in each stage of the seminiferous epithelium in dd-mice does not correspond to generally accepted one, step 15 and 16 spermatids are accurately classified by referring the position of nuclei and appearance of granules in the cytoplasm, and spermatogenesis in immature mice proceeds faster than in adults.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D000367 Age Factors Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time. Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012670 Seminiferous Epithelium The epithelium lining the seminiferous tubules composed of primary male germ cells (SPERMATOGONIA) and supporting SERTOLI CELLS. As SPERMATOGENESIS proceeds, the developing germ cells migrate toward the lumen. The adluminal compartment, the inner two thirds of the tubules, contains SPERMATOCYTES and the more advanced germ cells. Epithelium, Seminiferous,Epitheliums, Seminiferous,Seminiferous Epitheliums
D013087 Spermatids Male germ cells derived from the haploid secondary SPERMATOCYTES. Without further division, spermatids undergo structural changes and give rise to SPERMATOZOA. Spermatoblasts,Spermatid,Spermatoblast
D013090 Spermatocytes Male germ cells derived from SPERMATOGONIA. The euploid primary spermatocytes undergo MEIOSIS and give rise to the haploid secondary spermatocytes which in turn give rise to SPERMATIDS. Spermiocytes,Spermatocyte,Spermiocyte
D013091 Spermatogenesis The process of germ cell development in the male from the primordial germ cells, through SPERMATOGONIA; SPERMATOCYTES; SPERMATIDS; to the mature haploid SPERMATOZOA. Spermatocytogenesis,Spermiogenesis
D013093 Spermatogonia Euploid male germ cells of an early stage of SPERMATOGENESIS, derived from prespermatogonia. With the onset of puberty, spermatogonia at the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule proliferate by mitotic then meiotic divisions and give rise to the haploid SPERMATOCYTES. Spermatophores,Spermatogonias,Spermatophore
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

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